Starting in the fourth quarter of 2010 (or their employer’s first plan anniversary thereafter), the Affordable Care Act enabled parents to cover dependents up to age 26 on their group health plans. This provision may have contributed significantly to the decline in the uninsured in this age group.

Having more young adults in the group health insurance pool helps to stabilize premiums for all employers, because these individuals are typically healthier than average. We hope to see this trend continue and closer inspection of the data suggests it will.

Prior to the increases since 2010, there was a disturbing downward trend resulting in fewer insured young adults each quarter. And, normally there is a significant decrease in the insured each year in the third quarter, when kids who graduate from high school or college that year are removed from their parents’ policies. If, in fact, the ACA provisions are contributing to the reversal, the third quarter of 2011 should show a positive and continued increase in the number of insured young adults.

Check out the stats or read the summary report from the Department of Health and Human Services.